Improvement in steam-boilers



UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

L. B. FLANDERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM- BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 113,577, dated July i9, 1864; antedated June- 17, 1864.

To all` whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, L. B. FLANDERS, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Steam-Boilers 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanyingr drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a steam-boiler constructed in the manner fully7 described hereinafter, with the view of gaining the advantages of an extended heatingsurface, a free circulation of water through the boiler, rapid generation of steam, and facility for conducting repairs.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a4 part of this specication, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved boiler; Fig. 2, a sectional plan of the same, drawn to an enlarged scale.

A is the-outer casing ot' the boiler, and is of cylindrical form, with a dome-shaped top, through which passes the chimney a., to be re ferred to hereinafter. The lower end ofthe casing A is secured to the cylindrical base B by bolts b passing through a ange on the base, as well as through a flange on the casing, both iia'ngcs being formed with the view of making a perfectly-packed water-tight joint at the junction ofthe casing with the base, the joint at the saine time heilig of such a character that the casing can be readily removed from the base under the circumstances described hereinafter.

D is the inner casing ofthe boiler, and is of the square form, with rounded corners, repre sented in Fig. 2, the chimney c, previously alluded to as passing through the dome-shaped top of the casing A, being secured to the dat top d of the interior casing D. The lower end of this interior casing is united to or forms a part ot' the casing D', which at its junction with the casing D is of the same square form as the latter, but gradually assumes a cylindrical form as it approaches the lower end of the base B, to which it is united. This casing D' incloses the tirechamber E, provided with the usual gratebar, onto which the fuel is thrown through an opening, e, the latter being provided with the usual hinged lire doors.

At a point a short distance above the junction of the casing D with the casing D are arranged the first row of horizontal tubes f, and immediately above the latter is a second row of tubes, h, which are arranged at right angles to the lower tubes, and immediately above these tubes h are another row ot' tubes, z' z', at right angles 'to the tubes h, and this arrangement of the-tubes is continued upward,

one row being at right angles to the adjacent row. It will be seen that the center of each tube h coincides with a vertical line, fr, passing midway between two of the tubes f f -an arrangement continued throughout the entire system of tubes.

, Within the casing D, and near each corner of the same, are one, two, or more vertical tubes, F, the upper ends of which are secured to the top pla-te,vd, of the casing D, the lower end being bent, and the bent end being secured to the lower end of the said casing D.

On two sides of the square casing D are ar# ranged the shields H, which may be either plain or corrugated, as shown in Fig. 2. Each shield consists of a pla-te bent at the vertical edges and the top, which bent" edges bear against the side of the inner casing, D, a space, I, being thus formed, into which the water can pass freely from below inthe direction pointed out by the arrow, Fig. 1, for a purpose eX- plained hereinafter. The shields are not permanently secured to the casing D, but are confined thereto by strips k, secured to the corners of the said casing, as best observed on reference to Fig. 2, so that the shields can be readily removed when required.

The advantages of my improved boiler may be described as follows: The system of tubes to which the water has free access from the waterspace between the inner and outer casings afford an extended and most available heating-surface, as every portion of each tube is subjected to the direct action ofthe products lof combustion, which, owing to the peculiar arrangement of the tubes, must necessarily take a circuitous or zigzag course prior to es-y caping at the chimney a. At the same time the tubes form the most efficient staysl'or resistin g the pressure of the steam against the iat sides ofthe inner casing, D.V

It is well known that where horizontal or even inclined water-tubes in steam-boilers are exposed to the direct action of the iire the rapid generation of the steam prevents a free circulation of water through the tubes, and consequently the latter are soon burned and destroyed. This evil effect is obviated in my improved boiler by the shields H in a'manner which will be best understood by reference to Fig. l. As the globules of steam are rapidly generated in the lower tubes of the series, they have a tendency to escape from the latter and rise to the surface ot' the water in the boiler. It' these globules were permitted to escape at both ends of the tubes, the free circulation of water through the same would be prevented, andthe evil results mentioned above would ensue 5 but by the use of the shields H the steam can escape at one end only of each tube, while the water passing in the direction of the arrow into the space I and to the tubes takes the place ot' the water which has been converted into steam. Thus while the globules of steam are passing' out of one end of each tube the water is passing into the other, and such a free circulation of water must necessarily take place through the tubes as must constitute a bar to the destructive action of the tire. It is not necessary to carry the shields upward to the top of the inner casing, D, as the upper tubes are not so liable to be destroyed by the re as the lower tubes.

A most important feature ot' my improvement is the manner of connecting the outer easing, A, of the boiler to the base B. After unscrewing the nuts of the bolts b and loosening the packed joint at the point where the chimney a passes through the dome, the casing A may be elevated clear of theboiler, so as to expose the inner casing, D, every part of which is accessible to the workmen who may desire to make the repairs which all boilers necessarily demand periodically, the shields presenting no permanent obstacle to the conduct of such repairs, as they can be readily removed and replaced. No stays are required in the square portion D of the boiler other than those presented by the tubes. It will be advisable, however, to connect the base B to the portion D ofthe casing by means of suitable stays at the points y, (shown by red lines, Fig. 1;) and in order that the top d ot' the inner casing, D, may not be depressed by the steam, I make use of the diagonal stays M, the efticiency of which will be at once understood.

The vertical tubesF perform the important duty ot' maintaining a free circulation of water between the upper and lower portions of the boiler.

Although I prefer to arrange the tubes horizontally, as forming the most eflicient stays when in that position, they may be slightly inclined, and although I have shown the inner casing as being square it will be evident that it may be made six or eight sided without departing from the main feature of the invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The inner casing,D, with its arrangement of tubes, the continuation D of the said casing, the base B, 'and exterior cylindrical casing A, when the latter is arranged in respect to the base, and constructed for attachment to and detachment from the same, substantially vas set forth.

2. In combination with the said casing D, the shields H, constructed and arranged in respect to the tubes of the said casin g substantially as and for the purpose specitied.

3. The vertical tubes F, arranged within the Y casing D in respect to the horizontal tubes substantially as set forth, for the purpose described. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

. L. B. FLANDERS.

Witnesses:

J oI-IN WHITE, CHAs.. HoWsoN. 

